News

Gearbox: Duke Nukem Forever was not reviewed "fairly"
Posted: 03.11.2011 18:19 by JonahFalcon Comments: 7
The folks at Gearbox are still angry about the negative reception of Duke Nukem Forever, as co-founder Brian Martel claimed in an unpublished interview at Gamescom that reviewers were using the game as a "soapbox", and insinuated that if Half-Life were released today, it wouldn't have gotten the same kind of high praise it did when it was released.

In the interview, Martel expressed confusion over the perceived hostility towards Duke, stating, "We wish the reviews were a little less caustic. We're not quite sure where some of the anger came from," then added, "There were things towards the high and things towards the low, but the middle just didn't get any traction. It's pretty obvious that people were using it in some ways to kind of use it as a soapbox or whatever."

He then went on to say he did not think the game was reviewed "fairly", then stated that Duke Nukem was supposed to be an "old-school style game in what is today's technology". Martel then pondered, "Would Half-Life today be reviewed as highly as it is, you know, even today? As a new IP coming out with the same sort of mechanics Half-Life had.

"I think we all have a nostalgia and love for that particular brand. Obviously Gearbox got its start working on Opposing Force so we love Half-Life. But is the current gamer, would they have the same love for that? It'd be interesting. I think the same kind of thing happened with Duke."

Martel was then asked if Gearbox had set expectations too high, to which he responded, "I think there was no way that anybody could manage expectations. Name another game that's in a similar situation. This is a game that was around for 15 years and it went through a number of engine cycles. It could never be everything for everybody, right?"
Source: Eurogamer

Comments

By SirRoderick (SI Elite) on Nov 03, 2011
SirRoderick
"Would Half-Life today be reviewed as highly as it is, you know, even today?"

No it wouldn't, BUT IT WASN'T RELEASED THIS YEAR WAS IT?!

Just because you say it's supposed to be an old-school game, doesn't excuse you from modern critisism. You don't see Ford releasing a model with drum brakes, leaf suspension and a two-stroke engine, then selling it at the same retail price as your average car and getting away with it because it's "old-school".

That sort of snivelling, evading, logically falacious attempts to make it seem as if they didn't make any mistakes REALLY gets me worked up.
By JonahFalcon (SI Elite) on Nov 03, 2011
JonahFalcon
And by the way, if Half-Life were released with next-gen graphics, it would be lauded. Actually, it was - it's called Half-Life 2, which still looks great even in 2011.
By noobst3R (SI Core) on Nov 03, 2011
noobst3R
Well, personally, I love DNF, or at least like it a bit. It's just a pity that the GFX weren't good enough for some people (I gotta say, some parts did look early 2000's ugly), but other parts really impressed me, mostly gameplay wise. It was great fun to fire a simple pistol at aliens, slapping tits and flying with a jet pack in MP, but don't get angry Gearbox if not everybody else feels that way.

Also, I do hope some more SP dlc or a second DNF comes out.
By herodotus (SI Herodotus) on Nov 03, 2011
herodotus
Most importantly, "Half-Lfe" came at a time when there really wasn't anything like it in the market place. It brought FPS's and Action/Adventure together in one bundle. The Duck - it brought....what?
Anyway Gearbox, get back to work on something half-decent and stop with the tears already.
By SiyaenSokol (SI Elite) on Nov 04, 2011
SiyaenSokol
I also have to say that I enjoyed playing the game. Though I too agree that it is not one of the best games, but it was fun playing it while it lasted, and I am sure that I will play it again sometime.

I understand why the norm doesn't like the game, and I respect it. On my side however, the game was pretty decent for me.
By Revan (SI Elite) on Nov 04, 2011
Revan
I lost interest in DNF. If I want to play an "old school" game, I'll go fire up the 'ol N64 and play some Goldeneye.
And i think comparing DNF to something like Half-Life is downright insulting. And stupid.
I'll keep a lookout for Gearbox's games, and make sure I never buy another one from them again.
By herodotus (SI Herodotus) on Nov 04, 2011
herodotus
Glad you enjoy it, Vet. Then again you do like "F3EAR" as well:)